Guild Wars

~ Guild Wars: Chapter 2 ~

"There it is again," Rust meowed, shifting uncomfortably.

"There is what again?" Moriah asked.

Rust, Moriah, Fox, and Squirrel were all hunting by the border that marked where their territory ended and Wire's began.

"That . . . feeling," Rust murmured.

"What feeling?" Moriah pressed.

"He must not have told you," Fox meowed with a tired voice. "He's been talking about it to me nonstop."

"What?" Moriah snapped. "Tell me already!"

Rust sighed. "Nothing, it's not important."

"Clearly it was if you felt the need to bring it up. Come on! You can't just say something like that and not tell me what it was!"

Fox looked at Rust, his eyes were drooping and he looked like he hadn't slept in months.

"Should you tell her or should I?"

Rust hesitated for a moment, then finally gave in. "It feels like I'm being watched, like no matter where I go or what corner I turn, there's always eyes burning through my pelt. It's so uncomfortable."

Squirrel's eyes widened and Moriah gave him a questioning look, then snorted.

"You're feather-brained," she meowed. "Honestly, who could be watching you? The Great Shadow Cat? He isn't real!"

Rust sighed. "Knew you'd say that."

"I said that, too," Fox told Moriah. "I told him he's got fog in his brain, but maybe he'll actually listen to you."

"Doubt it," Moriah meowed. "I can't even get Aspen to listen to me, she's probably the most feather-brained cat I know. Honestly!"

"Aspen's different," Fox meowed. "She's more stubborn than Sandkeeper, which is really saying something."

"Hush!" Squirrel mewed, waving her tail. "Don't talk about Sandkeeper like that! And Aspen isn't that feather-brained. I'll admit, she's got a bit of fog in there, but she's a cat worth listening to."

Fox snorted. "You have to have a brain before you can even begin to have any fog in it."

Squirrel nudged him. "Stop it!"

Moriah blinked. "I'm not denying that she's a smart cat, I'm just saying that sometimes, well, most of the time, her sanity is questionable."

Rust blinked. "How does this have anything to do with what I said?" he asked.

"Well, these two can think you're feather-brained, but I want to know more," Squirrel mewed, bounding forward to join Rust. "Tell me everything."

Rust smiled, grateful for her support. "It started last week, I woke up from a bad dream with a creeping feeling that wouldn't leave. I thought it was just because of the nightmare and did what I usually do. All day it felt like someone, or something, was watching me. It hasn't left since, it's so weird and uncomfortable."

Rust blinked. "Wow, now that I say it out loud it sounds so made up. Maybe you're right Moriah, I think I am feather-brained."

Moriah raised her chin and smiled. "Of course, I'm always right."

Rust rolled his eyes and smiled. Just then, Fox's ears perked up. Squirrel tilted her head. "What is it, Fox?"

"Shut up!" Fox snapped.

Moriah swiveled her ears, Squirrel grew very alert, and Rust tried to ignore the uncomfortable burning feeling so he could pay attention. After a few heartbeats, he heard small pawsteps scampering through the grass.